Link Explored: Hypomagnesemia Connected to Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Patients in new study

The study found that albuminuria is more frequent in patients with hypomagnesemia.

Diabetic nephropathy is a prevalent cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. Magnesium plays a critical role in insulin resistance, and insulin, in turn, regulates magnesium levels. Edibe S. Eker and Hayriye E. Ataoğlu from Haseki Research and Training Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, aimed to investigate the association between hypomagnesemia and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a retrospective single-centre study encompassing 1178 patients aged 18 and above with type 2 diabetes, who attended the outpatient clinic between 2019 and 2020. Albuminuria levels were categorized as per the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines.

In the literature, studies typically use the hospital normal level as a reference point when examining cut-off values for hypomagnesemia. Hypomagnesemia, defined as magnesium levels below 1.6 mg/dL, was compared to normomagnesemia (magnesium between 1.6 and 2.4 mg/dL).

The primary objective was to explore the effect of magnesium levels on albuminuria, while the secondary objective was to determine the hypomagnesemia prevalence. The multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed according to gender (male), age, presence of hypomagnesemia, and HbA1c.

The study led to the following findings:

• The mean age of the participants was 58.7 ± 12.2 years, with 44% being male. Hypomagnesemia was identified in 5.3% of the patients.
• Advanced age and female gender were more common among patients with hypomagnesemia.
• Magnesium levels exhibited a negative correlation with HbA1c and fasting blood glucose and a positive correlation with creatinine levels (r = −.117, r = −.131, r = .117).
• Hypomagnesemia was significantly more prevalent in patients with albuminuria (15.9% versus 4.7%).
• Moreover, participants with the presence of hypomagnesemia were independently associated with a higher risk of albuminuria (odds ratio 3.64).

The relationship between hypomagnesemia and albuminuria represents a compelling area of investigation in diabetes research. By unraveling the intricate connections between these biochemical markers, clinicians can enhance their understanding of diabetic complications and refine their therapeutic approaches to optimize patient outcomes. As the researchers continue to unravel the complexities of diabetes pathophysiology, integrating magnesium assessment and supplementation may emerge as a pivotal strategy in holistic type 2 diabetes management.

Reference:

Eker, E. S., & Ataoğlu, H. E. The relationship between hypomagnesemia and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.15094